United Methodists

United Methodists have announced more cutbacks and layoffs as the weak economy continues to pressure some of their largest agencies.

The United Methodist Church's Board of Discipleship and Board of Global Ministries will be eliminating a total of 50 positions, adding to the layoffs that already occurred earlier in the year.

Eligible staffs have been offered a retirement package or a severance package, according to the United Methodist News Service. more >>

The United Methodist Church is urging the world to "rethink Church" through a new campaign that seeks to offer the church not as a building but as a movement of people empowered to transform the world.

Addressing the question "What has God called The United Methodist Church to be in the 21st Century?" the nearly 8 million-member U.S. church (12 million members worldwide) is launching more than $20 million in ads over the next four years to convey the message that church is a verb, not a noun.

"The campaign goal is sweeping and ambitious – to invite the church and those unchurched who seek spiritual fulfillment, to become more outwardly focused and engaged in the world," according to United Methodist Communications. more >>

The United Methodist Church's top court recently ruled that clergy, both active and retired, cannot perform same-sex marriages or civil unions.

Performing such services is "a chargeable offense," Bishop Beverly J. Shamana ruled last Friday. UMC's Judicial Council affirmed her decision.

The council further ruled that an annual conference, or regional body within the UMC, "may not negate, ignore, or violate provisions of the Discipline with which they disagree, even when the disagreements are based on conscientious objections to the provisions." more >>

Bishops of the United Methodist Church applauded President Barack Obama on Friday for his intention to start the immigration reform process this year.

“We join other religious leaders in thanking President Obama for placing immigration reform on his political agenda for 2009,” said the 28 UMC bishops who signed the statement as of Friday. “As United Methodists we believe that immigration is a human rights issue that needs serious attention.”

Speaking from Mexico City, Obama had said on Thursday that he favors a common sense approach to immigration reform that would help people on both side of the U.S.-Mexico border, according to The Associated Press. The president wants a new system that would streamline the process for immigrants who want to come to the United States, and create a pathway for illegal immigrants already in the country to become legal residents. more >>

The United Methodist Church will begin a series titled “Sex and the Church” next week to address hot topics such as teen pregnancy, homosexuality and divorce, the church announced Monday.

“Sex and the Church” articles will be presented through the United Methodist General Board of Church & Society’s (GBCS) electronic newsletter, Faith in Action. The first article, “The Theology of Sexuality,” will kick off the series on March 2.

“We see it almost every day in the news in one way or another: HIV & AIDS; rising divorce rates brought on by marital infidelity; teen pregnancy; homosexuality and homophobia. The topic is sexuality,” said GBCS board of directors president Bishop Deborah Kiesey, and Jim Winkler, the social justice agency’s chief, in a joint statement. “It is important for us and the Church to address this issue and its impact on all of us.” more >>

The United Methodist Church is testing out a mobile ad campaign this month that will incorporate a two-fold strategy of text messaging along with outdoor advertising.

“Open hearts. Open minds. Open Doors” campaign was launched in the Pittsburgh area last week and will run until Christmas Eve with the aim of reaching thousands of commuters and pedestrians with more than 40 billboards and transit shelter ads.

Ads simply stating messages of hope will prompt the public to text a keyword such as “believe” to a designated number. Those who text will receive a longer message inviting them to attend a United Methodist church for Christmas and offering them the opportunity to reply with their zip code to find a nearby church or to get more information at the denomination’s Web site. more >>